Transportation

‘We Are Not Responsible for Constant Flight Delays’- Airline Operators, FAAN

By Web News 547

TWO major stakeholders in the aviation sector, the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, and the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, are currently trading blames over the root cause of constant flight delays experienced by passengers.
While AON insists that FAAN is cupable for the delays as a result of lack of consultation before closing the domestic runway of Murtala Mohammed Airport, MMA, FAAN however explained that measures are being put in place to mitigate the problem as repair works in still ongoing on runway 18L/36R.

Drawing attention to the issue, AON President, Abdulmunaf Yunusa in a letter addressed to the Director General, FAAN, Capt Rabiu Yadudu said: “FAAN is aware of the current existential threat of runaway aviation fuel prices to the domestic airlines. The closure of the main domestic runway of MMA automatically adds an additional 10-15% more fuel costs per sector into and out of MMA, based on the additional flight and taxi time incurred as a result.
“The airlines have already felt these additional costs within the first week of the closure of the runway. This unnecessary burden is unsustainable for a 3 month period on the airlines.
“The closure of Runway 18L has led to a chain of direct flight delays on a daily basis, impacting the entire system of scheduled domestic flights in the country. FAAN is aware that most domestic flights originate from or pass through MMA at some point every day. This is an unnecessary additional negative outcome for the industry.

Reacting to the development, FAAN’s Acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Faithful Hope-Ivbaze, noted that, work commenced on the Runway on July 8, 2022 with the mobilization of equipment and workers while on July 9 the portion of the Runway closed to traffic was condoned off with safety barriers with obstacle Light.
“Marking of the runway centre line light commenced and 240m marking from the threshold 18L was done. While digging of cable trenches from the switch room 18L to Approach commenced same day.”

“As at last week’s heavy downpour rain affected the progress but stressed that so far, work is progressing well. As of July 18, 2022 FAAN is digging cable trenches while installation of the threshold 18L has commenced with cutting and excavation of the secondary cable trench and fixing of fittings.
“Marking of the taxiway Centreline, stop-bars and No Entry lights on taxiway C has commenced and is almost completed according to updates provided by the airport managers.”

Vanguard/Taiwo Akinola

Transportation

Airline Operators Make Case on 5 Percent Fuel Surcharge

By Web News 638

As a move to forestall a backlash and total shutdown of airline operations in the country, the Airline Operators of Nigeria, AON, has called for the immediate removal of the five per cent fuel surcharge collected by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA. The airlines body lamented that the rise in aviation fuel, also known as Jet A1, has greatly increased their operational cost to over 130 per cent, adding that the need to remove the fuel surcharge could not be overemphasized.

But, NCAA’s spokesperson, Mr Sam Adurogboye, in a swift reaction, stated that there was a misconception about the fuel surcharge, saying it was not remitted to the regulatory agency but to Federal Government’s coffers.

“The Federal Government asked us to collect the money on their behalf and we remit to them. NCAA’s 5 per cent on TSC and Cargo Sales Charge, CSC, is not airlines that credit the fund but passengers.

“Whatever is their airfare, we add 5 per cent to it. Before now, we collected this surcharge from passengers directly, but the airlines requested to assist us in collecting it to remove delays at the airport.

“The 5 per cent fuel surcharge was introduced by the Federal Government as a way of raising funds to fight insecurity. So if the letter is sent to NCAA, we will deliver their message to the Federal Government.”

However, a letter signed by AON President, Abdulmunaf Yunusa, and addressed to the Director-General, NCAA, Captain Musa Nuhu, said AON wishes to seek the kind approval of fuel surcharge as an ameliorative measure to cushion the effect of the continuous increase in the exorbitant price of Jet-Al on airline operations in the country.

“In addition to the crippling effect of intermittent shortages of Jet A-1, the price has risen from N200 per litre in February 2022 to over N780 today. This has greatly increased the operational cost of airlines by well over 130 per cent, yet airlines are unable to increase fares and as well suffer from the unavailability of foreign exchange to conduct their operations.

“In order to forestall a backlash and total shutdown of the system, airlines are hoping to resort to an introduction of a fuel surcharge of between 25 per cent and 40 per cent of NUC as a way of offsetting the additional burden brought about by increased fuel cost, bearing in mind that jet fuel accounts for about 40 per cent of total operational expenses.”

Vanguard/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko